Romaji and Transcription: Polivanov or Hepburn
Romaji and Japanese transcription are needed to write Japanese sounds in another alphabet: in Latin script it's romaji (sushi, Tokyo), and for Cyrillic the Polivanov system is adopted (susi, To:kyo:). The difference between 'sushi' and 'susi' is not about correctness, but about which system the word went through.
'Sushi' or 'susi'? A master would answer: 'Both are just a finger pointing at the moon.' Latin and Cyrillic only approximate the Japanese sound. The truth is in kana and in how the word itself sounds, not in the letter on a sushi bar sign.
What is romaji and why do transcription systems exist?
Romaji is the representation of Japanese syllables in Latin script for those who cannot read kana. Since Japanese sounds do not match European letters, writing systems were invented: Hepburn for Latin script and the Polivanov system for Cyrillic. They represent the same syllables in different ways.
Polivanov or Hepburn: what's the difference?
| Kana | Polivanov (Russian) | Hepburn (English) |
|---|---|---|
| し | si | shi |
| ち | ti | chi |
| つ | tsu | tsu |
| じ | dzi | ji |
| しゃ | sya | sha |
What should a beginner choose — Polivanov or Hepburn
For Russian text — Polivanov: textbooks and dictionaries are written this way. Hepburn will be needed when typing Japanese on a keyboard and in English-language materials, so in practice you have to learn both systems.
Why 'sushi' and 'susi' are the same word
The word 寿司 is written as 'susi' in the Polivanov system, while the colloquial 'sushi' came through the English 'sushi' (Hepburn). The actual Japanese sound し is something between the Russian 'si' and 'shi', so both spellings are only approximations. The academic standard for Russian is Polivanov ('susi'), but English variants have taken root in everyday speech.
Why transcription is a crutch, not a goal
No system conveys Japanese sounds exactly: し is between the Russian 'si' and 'schi', and vowel length in Cyrillic is indicated by a colon, which does not exist in spoken language. Therefore, transcription is abandoned as soon as kana is learned.
FAQ
- Which is correct — 'sushi' or 'susi'?
- Academically, according to the Polivanov system, it's 'susi'. Colloquially, 'sushi' has taken root (via the English spelling). The actual Japanese sound し is between 'si' and 'shi', so there is no single 'correct' Russian variant.
- Should I learn Japanese using romaji?
- Only for the very first days as a support. After that, you need to switch to kana: transcription distorts sounds and slows down reading real texts.
- Why do textbooks use the Polivanov system?
- It is the academic standard for transcribing Japanese into Russian, consistent and unambiguous. Therefore, dictionaries and textbooks usually have 'si', 'ti', 'tsu', not 'shi', 'chi'.
- Why 'Mitsubishi' in the dictionary, but 'Mitsubishi' in the brand?
- Brands often write in Latin using Hepburn, and they are mechanically transferred into Russian. Academically, according to Polivanov, it's 'Mitsubishi'. This is again a difference in systems, not a pronunciation error.
Updated: 2026-06-25